Brooke blew out the deep breath she had been holding in for miles. The weather in Tree Hill was brisk, bordering on unforgiving, still she kept the pace. With gloved but cold hands nestled deep in the pockets of her brand new designer suede jacket, she trudged on, the heels of her boots clicking loudly against the pavement. If a few years before someone had suggested Brooke Davis actually take a walk, she would have died laughing in their face. How stupid was that? Why walk when you could tool around town in your brand new convertible? But that had been a different time and a different Brooke.

It was funny how time changed life and life changed everything. It was quiet outside with the sky above a tranquil blue color. It was easy to simply enjoy the peace around her, even if there was little peace in her heart. But a nice, long walk becoming one with nature always seemed to do the trick. Lucas had taught her that when they first started dating. She'd roll her eyes and complain but secretly she loved their hand in hand strolls. It was both romantic and serene, the very calm her soul longed for.

And so many months later, without Lucas by her side, Brooke found herself on yet another soul searching walk. She was alone but consumed by thought. Through the crazy events of the last few weeks, there was one person she needed to talk to, someone who had decided to lie low in the midst of the drama. But she knew where to find him, she knew the one place he would be. It seemed to be the one place in Tree Hill everybody went to when in need of answers and a little hope.

Hearing the soft, wet grass make a squishing sound under her shoes, she rounded the corner that led to the River Court. There were no sounds of laughter or cheers or balls being bounced on the asphalt. It was quiet as the benches overlooked the river that separated the basketball court from the city. Perhaps Brooke had traveled there as well searching for answers and hope. That would be determined but she did find what else she was looking for or rather whom.

"Is this seat taken?" she asked softly.

He lowered his head before turning to her.

"Free country", he mumbled.

She took that as the closest thing to an invitation she was going to get as Brooke took a seat beside her friend.

"I've been looking for you."

"I've been around."

"You're sort of hard to find."

"Maybe that's because I didn't want to be found."

His words were short and they stung a little bit but she tried to look past it. It wasn't really him. He didn't mean it. He was just going through a lot.

"I um…I don't know. I guess I just wanted to see you, I wanted to talk but uh, maybe, maybe it's not a good time. I don't want to bother you…"

She stood to leave but he stopped her.

"Brooke, wait…"

Their eyes met and for the first time she saw just how red and puffy his were. It was more than obvious he had been crying and that fact broke her heart.

"Mouth…"

"I didn't mean to snap at you", he apologized.

"It's okay. I didn't mean to sneak up on you. I was just worried. I mean, are you okay?" she asked, as his heartbroken gaze met hers and instantly she felt like the world's biggest ass for asking. "Of course you're not okay. Pretty dumb question, huh? I guess that's why you haven't been at school."

Mouth shrugged.

"I can't go to school", he sighed. "It's too hard. Everything reminds me of her, of us. I know if I want to graduate with you guys in June eventually I'm gonna have to get off my butt and go back but then I think how humiliating it's gonna be. Everybody knows, Brooke. They'll be watching and talking."

"I wish I could say that's not gonna happen but we both know it will. That's high school and unfortunately that's the way it is."

"It's dumb", he muttered, shaking his head.

"It's not dumb. You know, when Lucas and I broke up, I know how hard it was. It may seem silly or whatever but I'd actually dread cheering at games because that was our time. I know my job was basically to root for the whole team but most of it was for Broody. And no matter what, he'd always look up at me and smile…it was nice."

"Yeah."

"We were always together. We were like the world's worst study partners because all we would do was make out. We'd watch movies and listen to music and use our fake IDs to get into bars…it was a wild time but it was fun. I really miss that. It took a while to admit it, even to myself but I guess the truth does hurt. That's why I feel so bad for you. I've been where you are, Mouth and I know it sucks. I know how much it hurts."

"Does it ever get better?" his feet kicked at the dirt.

"Believe it or not, yeah, even though it might not feel like it right now."

Mouth shook his head.

"I just don't get it…"

"Don't get what?"

"How easy it is to actually love and hate someone at the same time."

Brooke closed her eyes. She knew exactly where he was coming from. Boy, did she ever.

"Love and hate are probably the two most powerful human emotions. There really is a thin line there."

"I can't stop thinking about her. I know it's over between Rachel and me. I know I have to move on but how? She, she was my whole world. She was my everything so how am I supposed to make that nothing at all now?"

She shrugged.

"I don't know what to tell you. There are no easy answers, you just do."

"It's so mixed up. I try not to think about it but I can't help but replay all the good times over and over in my head. I know it's self torture but I can't help it. And I think about where it went wrong or if she even loved me at all."

"Mouth…"

"Why did you come here, Brooke?" he asked her.

"I had to see you. I wanted to talk."

"I'm sure you just came to say, 'I told you so'."

"No. Mouth, I would never…"

"It's okay if you did. Can't say I blame you. I deserve it even."

"No, you don't. Nobody does."

He laughed a bitter heartfelt laugh.

"I was a fool, Brooke. I was a real fool. All I've ever been was the dorky kid with the goofy coke bottle glasses who got good grades. The only time I ever belonged was right here at this court and I'm not talking about now. Not this cool hangout spot where all the jocks come and party. I'm talking about the run down court on the other side of the tracks where Lucas and Skills and Fergie and Junk used to ball while me and Jimmy called the plays on my cheap tape recorder. Those were the days. That's when I was a part of something real."

"You're part of something now. Mouth, you have lots of friends."

"Do I? I mean, am I the cool kid because I have my own official media broadcast for the Ravens? Am I cool because I eat lunch with you and Nathan and Peyton and Jake? Or was I cool because I had the prettiest girl in the school on my arm?"

Brooke rolled her eyes and cringed.

"Prettiest girl in school? I mean, you almost had me there, Mighty Mouth. You might want to go home and fish for the goofy coke bottle glasses."

"Brooke, can I just have my moment here?" he threw his hands in the air.

"Sorry."

"What I was trying to say is, it's all a lie."

"What is?"

"All of it. I'm still that kid, Brooke. And I was an idiot to go out of my league and think that someone like Rachel could ever love someone like me."

"You know what? You're right", Brooke thought for a minute. "You're absolutely right to think someone like Rachel could love someone like you. Someone inconsiderate, heartless and superficial could love someone so kind and gentle and wonderful. But you're not the one that lost out and I'm not just saying that because I can't stand the ho. You are a beautiful person, Marvin McFadden, inside and out. A lot of people see that, a lot of people believe that but it won't matter unless you do. Her whole life Rachel has been on the quest for something more. No amount of money or surgery or one night stands will ever cure that. The sad thing is, she doesn't even realize it. You were the best thing that ever happened to her and one day she'll regret the way she treated you."

"It hurts so bad", he began to lose his waging battle with tears.

"This sounds so lame right now but it is supposed to hurt."

"I was a real asshole…"

"No, you weren't. You treated Rachel like gold."

"I mean to you."

"What?"

"You're a good friend, Brooke. You saw all the signs. You were trying to warn me and protect me but I didn't listen."

"You were blinded by love", she shrugged.

"Maybe so but that didn't give me the reason to treat you like crap. I said some pretty mean things to you. At the time, I didn't care. Maybe I was so mad that I was trying to hurt you but I went too far. It was a real low blow to throw Lucas in your face. Now the shoe is on the other foot and I see how bad it hurts and I wouldn't wish that kind of pain on my worst enemy."

"It's okay", Brooke sighed softly.

"No, it's not okay", he wailed. "It's anything but okay. How am I supposed to get through this? How did you get through this?"

Brooke looked him right in the face and gave him a sincere smile.

"I got through it because of friends like you and you'll get through it because of friends like me."

She put her arm around him and held him as he sobbed like a baby.

"I'm sorry, Brooke."

All she could do was hold him. Looking up at the sky, she saw the hint of a rainbow and it made Brooke smile. It had come from nowhere but maybe it was some sort of sign. Maybe it really was the magical place Lucas had made it out to be. Whatever it was, suddenly things didn't look so bad anymore. It was a dark day but there was light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe there was hope after all.

"I didn't come down here to say 'I told you so'. Mouth, I came down here to tell you it's going to be okay."

And somehow, someway, she just knew that it would be.